Collected Poems Volume II Part 32

Prince John is there, Fitzwalter cannot save 'ee.

They'll burn the castle down.

ROBIN

Prince John is there?

LITTLE JOHN

Ay, and my lord Fitzwalter had best look Well to my mistress Marian, if these ears Heard right as I came creeping thro' their lines.

Look well to her, my lord, look well to her.

Come, master, come, for G.o.d's sake, come away.

FITZWALTER

Robin, this is thy rashness. I warned thee, boy!

Prince John! Nay, that's too perilous a jest For even a prince to play with me. Come, Robin, You must away and quickly.

ROBIN

Let me have One word with Marian.

LITTLE JOHN

It would be the last On earth. Come, if you ever wish to see Her face again.

FITZWALTER

Come, Robin, are you mad?

You'll bring us all to ruin!

[_He opens a little door in the wall._]

The secret pa.s.sage, This brings you out by Much the Miller's wheel, Thro' an otter's burrow in the river bank.

Come, quick, or you'll destroy us! Take this lanthorn.

If you're in danger, slip into the stream And let it carry you down into the heart Of Sherwood. Come now, quickly, you must go!

ROBIN

The old cave, lads, in Sherwood, you know where To find me. Friar Tuck, bring Widow Scarlet Thither to-morrow, with a word or two From Lady Marian!

FITZWALTER

Quickly, quickly, go.

[_He pushes ROBIN and LITTLE JOHN into the opening and shuts the door. A pause._]

Oh, I shall pay for this, this cursed folly!

Henceforth I swear I wash my hands of him!

[_Enter MARIAN, from a door on the right above the banqueting hall. She pauses, pale and frightened, on the broad steps leading down._]

MARIAN

Father, where's Robin?

FITZWALTER

Child, I bade you stay Until I called you.

MARIAN

Something frightened me!

Father, where's Robin? Where's Robin?

FITZWALTER

Hush, Marian, hark!

[_All stand listening._]

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF

[_Stealing to the foot of the stairs and whispering to LADY MARIAN._]

Lady, they're all so silent now. I'll tell you I had a dream last night--there was a man That bled to death, because of four grey walls And a black-hooded nun.

FITZWALTER

[_Angrily._]

Hist, Shadow-of-a-Leaf!

[_The third bugle sounds. There is a clamour at the doors.

Enter PRINCE JOHN and his retainers._]

JOHN

[_Mockingly._]

Now this is fortunate! I come in time To see--Oh, what a picture! Lady Marian, Forgive me--coming suddenly out of the dark And seeing you there, robed in that dazzling white Above these verdant gentlemen, I feel Like one that greets the gracious evening star Thro' a gap in a great wood.

Is aught amiss?

Why are you all so silent? Ah, my good, My brave Fitzwalter, I most fervently Trust I am not inopportune.

FITZWALTER

My lord, I am glad that you can jest. I am sadly grieved And sorely disappointed in that youth Who has incurred your own displeasure.

JOHN